Improvement in stalk-cutters



` angle, and is supported on the axle'B and wheels C levers K K',

stint @with naar'INenrw'-oo-D, or Paolini, ILLINOIS.

Letters Iatent No. 107,662, dated September 27, v1870.

IMPROVEMENT-IN sTALK-cuTTERs..

' The Schedule referred to in' these Letters Patent and making parl: of the same.

I, MARTINOAYWOOD, of Peoria county,audfState of Illinois, have invented certain .Improvements in Stalk-0utters, of which the followingis a speciiication. y

Nature and Objectis of ythe Intention.

The nature of my invention relates to improve.

ments in that classiof stalk-cutters in which aframe carrying ythe cylinder of cutters is 'pivoted, at its rear y end, to a supporting-frame mounted on wheels and The in'vention consists in the arrangement and combination therewith of hand and-also foot1evers,forV the "purpose of'` raising the cutters from 'the ground, when desired, Tand for the purpose of enabling the operator to increase the weight on the cutters when needed, all as hereinafter fully described.

Description. of the Accompanying Drawing. Figure 1' isa top plan or view of my invention, r Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view oi'lig. 1,011

the plane of the line a: x,

General Description.' A represents the main framefwhichi's a plain rectandprbvided with adraitpole,D, and may be braced as required.

E E represent a swinging frame, pivoted atv its rear end to the frame A,'and provided, near its forward end, with suitable bearings for the4 shaft carryin`g ;the

cylinder of cutters F. t isa 1ever,pivoted in ears or lugs, g g, on `the cross-piece a, and its forward cud connectedbyrods `c c with the forward end of the swinging frame E.

l H is-a rackban extending upwardfrom the axle B,'

and engaging the catchh, on the lever G. `4

I I are hooks, pivoted' iorwardto the under side -of the tongue or draft-pole, 'and their hooked or free ends connected by cha-ins with the rods e e. 'J J are guides', extending downwardfrom the main frame oul each side, andtbrming guides, to prevent lateral movement of the swinging frame E K K are levers, 'pivoted between the guides J, their forward ends impinging-against the under side of the frame-pieces E E, and'their rear ends connected by cross-piece It."

t 7s is an inclined planeV or-avedge-sha'ped block, one of which is placed4 where each of lthe forwardtends of -levers K K ,strike the frame E E, with theirlarge end to the rear, iuxorder to cause a slight' vibration of 'from the ground.

.VL is a rod, extending from one of the frame-piecesv E across to the otherE.l Outhis'rod are pivot'ed the foot-levcrs l l, having fulcr'umsunder` the piece,j or

plates l l'. Y v The plates l l' are. slotted, and secured to the axle to raise the cylinderof cutters F clear B-by bolts Z Z", allowing their vertical adjustment for adaptation to different operators, -boys or meu. By

`pressure on'the rear endsof levers l l, the weight vof the `operator may be thrown ontothe cutters `F.

The operation of my invention is asfollows: The drivers seat is on the cross frame-piece A.

The.lever G being released from the rack-bar H,

theI cylinder' of cutters F will drop to the `ground, carrying with them the hooksiI I, and the machine is ready for operation, the hooks I I serving to draw the stalks into the line of progression of the machine, and theV cutters F chopping or cutting them into short pieces, inthe usual' manner. v

Should it be necessary, fromany cause, to-increase the-weight on the cutters, it may be done by the driver simply pressing with 'h is, feet on the ends of the levers Z' l. v When it is desired to raise thefcutters F from the ground, and secure them in that position, it may' he done by bringing down the rear end 0i' the lever G, and engaging the catch h' with the rack-bar onjthc bar It connecting the levers K.

-It willbe seen that the hooks I I, being connectedby' links with `the rods e e, will-be raised from the ground simultaneously with cutters F` by the operation ofthe levers G or K K. Also, that thebars J J not onlyserve as guides and stays for the frame E E,

but also as supports for thepivots on which the levers K. K oscillate.

y Claims. I I claim as my inventionl. The arraugeinent of the ehainsii,'1fods e e, hooks I I, and frame E E, with the levers G. and K K, for

joint operation, substantiallyinthe manner and for.

the purpose specified. r

2. 'The toot-levers-t Z,` pivoted to' the frame-pieces E E, aud'having their fulcrums under -'tlieadjnstable' platcsl' l, when arranged to. operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

V 3-.5'1he combination and arrangement of the levers K K, cross-bar k, guidesvJ J, with the frame E E,

the forward end-of ther levers K K impinging on the incline planesjt k', all substantially as described, and forthe purpose speciiied v 4. The combination of the lever G, rods ee, and

rack-bar H, with the frames A A and-E E, andfoot levers lK K'and guides J J, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

` MARTIN OAYWOOD. Witnesses: 1

` HonATIo J. GOYKENDALL,

Jona DnYs. 

